Jacksonville High School Early Childhood Jobs Training

Episcopal Children's Services trained juniors and seniors from Ridgeview High School and Frank H. Peterson High School in Conscious Discipline, a classroom management method that emphasizes self-regulation and emotional development.

The R.I.S.E. program (Reaching & Inspiring Students in Early-Education) pairs classroom instruction with real-world job preparation. Students worked in teams to master different Conscious Discipline techniques while working toward Child Development Associate credentials, which they aim to complete by year's end.

Telisa Pitts, ECS4Kids' Director of Educational Operations, created the program to build the early childhood workforce. "Training these students allows us to invest directly in the future of our workforce," she said.

Beyond training, ECS4Kids staff conducted mock interviews and provided feedback on communication and presentation skills. The organization also walked students through the application and hiring process for open positions within ECS4Kids.